OYO 531 Le Light House & Hostel

The people at Le Light Cafe are what made Chiang Mai special for me. Their calm manner, attitude, and hard work, especially the ladies in the cafe, became part of my daily life. I miss them. There were three women who really held the cafe together, and watching how they got along with each other, the guests, and me was something I looked forward to. When I didn’t see them at least once in a day, it felt like something was missing. I spent a month in the hostel, then kept eating there every day for another month. For eight weeks I sat at the same comfortable table, ordered food, and watched the staff prepare and serve it. They worked with impressive care and efficiency, but they were warm, hardworking locals, not robots. The food was delicious, with a varied menu, big portions, and pleasantly quick service. The hostel surprised me too. I’d searched Google Maps for “the square,” meaning Old Town, and was looking for an economical hostel. Le Light Cafe caught my eye, but I honestly expected very little. I ended up falling in love with the place. I stayed in a 10 or 12 bed dorm and asked for a bottom bunk. I wasn’t expecting high hygiene standards in a room like that, but the bathrooms, including the toilets, showers, and sinks, were cleaned carefully, and the floors were mopped regularly. When I asked, they changed my bunk sheets and provided fresh towels and pillowcases. The service felt on par with western standards. I’d encourage you to stay, enjoy the food, and be kind to the staff. You’re likely to have a lovely time. Travel safe and happy.